ATHENS, Ohio (May 12, 2004) -- Transportation and Parking Services at Ohio University is seeking comments from faculty, staff and students in response to a proposed plan to install a number of parking meters throughout campus.

According to Sherry Barnes, director of Transportation and Parking Services, metered parking is being proposed in order to accommodate the growing demand for visitor and short-term parking and to address increased costs in providing additional parking.

The proposal calls for meters to be strategically placed in time-restricted spaces and reserved visitor spaces. Additional metered spaces will be added to supply the demand for visitor parking and to help control illegal parking and to facilitate non-permit parking.

The majority of the meters will be enforced from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with others enforced from 7 a.m. until midnight, seven days per week. Some of the meters will allow for multiple hour parking and several meters will have a two-hour time restriction similar to the City of Athens' meters located in the uptown area. The cost of the meters will range from 25 cents for 30 minutes and 10 cents for 12 minutes. All meters will be posted with the enforced time and regulations for that particular space. Fines for expired meters will be $5, with the fine escalating to $10 if not paid within 48 hours.

To see a map of proposed meter locations or to provide comments and feedback, go to www.facilities.ohiou.edu/meter/. This site will be available for review and comments for a two-week period beginning May 18 through June 1.